14,650 yards in the pool this week

With the uncertainties around my foot we agreed with Kevin, my coach (www.tricoach.us), to hold off on running until the results and supplement my running with swimming. I ended up swimming 4 times in 5 days, and swam 4,250 yards in 74 minutes yesterday, the most I've ever done. I think that barely covers the 2.4 mile swim of the ironman, but it's very encouraging that I was able to do it.

I got to the pool around 5:45 and starting my swim at 5:53am. Below was my training:
 Warm-up: 1,000 yards:
300 freestyle - 100 kicks - 300 pull - 300 Free
Main set: 2,750 yards:
100 pace - 200 build - 300 pace -5 - 200 build - 100 pace - 50 Easy
 then 2 x [4x100 pace - 3x50 fastest interval - 2x100 pace -5 - 3x50 fastest interval]
Cool down: 500 freestyle with fins

Relieved after the MRI results

The X-Rays of Monday morning did not reveal any bone anomalies. That did not do much to appease my worries and I asked to get a MRI done as most stress fracture are hard to identify on X-rays, but can be detected with a MRI.
I took the MRI on Tuesday morning and went to see the doc today for the results. Good news! the MRI did not show any bone fracture, but instead a mild Peroneal tendinitis. That's good! I can now put that behind me, get my foot back in order with the help of Josh (Clutch PT), and finally get started with my running.
I cannot wait to run on the hills of Prospect Park in Brooklyn on Saturday morning before watching the Seahawks school the Saints in the afternoon. Go Hawks!
I will continue to ice my foot, and focus a lot more on my calcium and vitamin D intake to strengthen my bones. Stretching will be huge as well.

Visit to Clutch Physical Therapy did not go as planned

Matt, a good friend and fellow triathlete, recommended that I talked to Josh from Clutch Physical Therapy on New York City's upper East side about my foot. Josh is a triathlete himself and focuses his practice on athletes. It is very hard to find great docs in the city and the word of mouth is always the best option. Josh did an incredible job on Matt's knees, allowing him to win Ironman Louisville last year (age group 25-29), and subsequently clinching his Kona spot! So, clearly, Josh must know what he is talking about.

I went to see him today to treat what I thought was a lingering Peroneal tendinitis. Despite taking 7 weeks off running, my left foot is still sensitive, which made me want to get it checked again. After looking at it, Josh did not think it was a tendinitis, but possibly a stress fracture. He took the time to look at it, described the best treatment for it (which means wearing a boot for 4 weeks!), and his plan to get me back into my training after the I'd be done with my treatment. Big bummer to think that it could be a stress fracture that should have been diagnosed during my first visit back in November, but at least I know where to go after to get back into my training quickly.

I highly recommend Clutch Physical Therapy to anyone who lives in the greater NY area and needs PT

Josh
Clutch Physical Therapy
244 East 84th Street (5th Floor)
New York City, NY
www.clutchpt.com